Stamping or franking machine.



E. Moss.

STAMPI-NG 0R FRNKING MACHINE.

lAPPLICATION FILED APR. l i915.

1,196,968. PatentedSept.-5,1916.

Y 1o SHEETS-shiny 1-.

L Moss. STAMPING 0R FRANKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I 1915- Patented sept. 5, 1916.

1o SHEETS-SHET 2.

STAMPINGOR FRANKING MACHINE.

AP P|.|cAT|oN FILED APR. 1. 1915.

' 1,1 96,968. Patemdseptjf), 1916.

i0 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

v E. MOSS.

STAMPINGA OIR FRANKING MACHINE. APPLlcATloN' FILED APR. l. 1915.

1,196,968. Ptentedsept. 5,1916.

losHEEs-SHEET 4.

gE. Moss. y STMPING O R FRANKING MACHINE'. APPLICATION FILED APR. I, .IQ-I5.

Patented Sept. 5,1916.

1o SHEETS-SHEET 5.

E. MOSS.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

E. MOSS.4

-STAMPING OIR FRANKING MACHINE. APPLICATION mw APR. I. 1915.

1,196,968'. A Patentedsept. 5, 1916.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

E. MOSSIA STAMPING 0R FRANKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. I', 1915.'

I0 SHEETS-#SHEET l0.

Patented Sept. 5, :1916. l

i at i486 Retreatv road, Dallington, Christ- Y ments -inStamping or Franking Machines,

' PATENTOFFICE-` To *dll whom t may concern Be'itknown that I, ERNEST Moss, a sub-V ject of the King of'Great Britain, residing church, lthe Dominion of New Zealand, have`; ,.inven ted newl and useful `Improveof which the following is a speciication.

'Ih-is invention relates to ranking Inachi'n'es; that i's to say, machines for stamp- 'ing letters, telegrams, documents and generally for use in lieu of the aliXing of advh 'es'ive stamps for the prepayment of the cost of# transmission or of the amount of duty levied thereon.

The objecta. of the present invention are cl i'ieflyf to provide a machine from which it will beimpossible to obtain an impression or 4frank without causing the machine lto record the face value of such frank; and,

secondly to provide a machine capable .of

supplying franks ofl a great Vrange orvariety of denomlnations or values.

I W'ith-these and other objects 1n View the construction, includes the following fea-` tures-:f- (a) Means for receiving the matter to be stamped and for forwarding such mat ter to vthe, stamping mechanism, which latteris positioned at an inaccessible. point within the interior of the machine. (1)) Means for stamping.- or impressing the" matter with the desired denomination or Value.

A Meansfor completing the frank by im.

' pressingor stamping the matter with any additional letterpress, symbols, figures,- devicesor `the like. (d) 'Means for inking the dies, Means for effecting the selection ofthe desired value ordenomination of they frank, and includmg means for causlng such selection, when made, tof'be visible from the exterior of- -the machine. v( f) Means whereby the operation of the mechanism forthe purpose -of effecting the stamp'- aing or lmpressing of the matter will automatically cause -the value of the frank so "'isupplied, to be recorded and the value of each subsequent frank as it is'supplied to be added to `the total of such record.A '(g) Means Awhereby the stamping,- rregistering and recording mechanisms are actuated automatically, at a -certain'required speed,

. lthus avoiding the possibility, of inaccuracies -in the. working of such lmechanisms as might :bevoccasioned byy varying the speed vof operation; -V('L )"Means whereby the Vachine asa whole with the cover in position.

` matic View showing 'specification@tieners-riefen#'- Patenteasept.5,1'916. 'Apbi'ic'ati'onfled-Aprii 1,'1915. serial 110513577.-

inatically' locked from action'k except'whenrequired to perform their functions in the manner,- nrelationship,

stood,' reference will now. be fmade top the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 isa perspective view ofthe ma- Fig. 2 is a similarv view of the machine with the cover removed. `Fig. 3- is aperspective view ofthe machine as viewed. from the rear. Fig. 4 is a front elevation showing -the means for receiving the matter to be franked, and also the .means for selecting and displaying the value ofv the frank.

Fig. 5 isa front elevation of the means for carrying 'the matter during the stamping l`by the dies, some of the-parts being shown in section in order to make the construction' clear. Fig. 6 is a face View .of the upper f side otthe'construction shown in- Fig.l 5,"4

and illustrating the means for -rece1v1ng and retaining the matter thereon. AFigs. 7,1 8' and 9 are three detail views showing the operation of the means employedlfor con,-

trolling the grippers/ other parts cooperating therewith. "Figa ofv Fig. Sand certain'f' 10, 11, 12 and 13 are a series of diagram-1'-" maticv views' illustrating the successive;

stagesin the operation.ofthefmeansshown Figs. 1 4 and 15 'are diagram- Ain Fig. 5 for carrying the matter during-jf."

stamping. r90-4 matic `views illustrating the operationor`- the means for recelvlng andforwardlng the.

matter to the stamping mechanism and showing also the'means for inking the de-f5 -`nonnnation dies. vFig. `161s a somewhat similar diagrammatic View showing the pol' sitions of the parts at the moment at which the matter comes in contact with the. del'-` nomination dies. Fig. 17 is a 'similarview 100.v

to Fig. 16 but showing the positions when the matter'is' in contactvwith one of thefl;

supplementary dies. Fig.- 18 is a diagrambringing the supplementary dies into oper the denomination dies. show, for example, lmpresslons of two sup.-4V

the means employedvfor* 1 los'A plem'entary dies employed for stamping-' the., 'i matter in conjunction with 'the denomina--.

. tiondiesso as to. complete therank.' Fig. "1101y means for causing the value of the frankto be recorded. F ig. 24 is a similar view illustrating vthe method of driving the means for carryino the matter and for vactuating the recording means.l Fig. 25 is a rear. 'elevation of the machine showing the :means employed for actuating certain,

parts `of the machine automatically by means of a spring, and showing also the recording means. F igs. 26, 27 and 28 are vdetail views` illustrating .the successive `movements of the transferring mechanism yof the recorder. Fi 29 is a part rear elevation ofthe -machine showing thefmeans for governing the speed lof the machine when operated by means of -the spring and showing also the means for interlocking the denomination levers and theoperating handle `of 'the machine. Fi 30 is.a detail view showing the means or connecting. the governing means with the mechanism of the machine. Fig.- 31 is 'a side elevation showing the cabinet (partly`v broken away) dropped by the machine upon the completion of franking and illustrating the means,

for effecting the interlocking of such receptacle with the operating handle of the machine. Figs. 32 and 33 are detail views illustrating twov successive stages of such locking means during the lot tion of the operating handle.' Figs. 34 an 35 are detail .viewsillustrating the means for preventing the -o erating handle from being twice turned uring one operation of the machine, and, Fig. 36 is a detail 4 view of the means for interlocking the denomination levers and the operating handle of the machine.

The said construction comprises a suitable framework 1 )wherein is revolubly mounted `a horizontal shaft 2 provided upon its outer projecting `end with a crank or handle 3 by means'of which it mayV be rotated..` -V

` AKeyed upon the shaft 2 is a cam 4 adapted to engage a pair ofpins or rollers`5 'and 6 mounted upon a slidable rod 7 for theA purpose of causing such rod to perform a reciprocal movement during one revolution of the shaft 2.

. I. i f -Revolubly mounted upon a horizontal axis 8 the front portion of the frame 1 is a cylinder'Av 9provi'ded at one end with h a pinion 10 adapted to'interm'esh with the" teeth of -a rack 11 formed in the lower por- Ation of the said rod 7, the arrangement being such that the said .reciprocal movement' of the rod will lcause 'theicylinder to this arrangement -the dnterval betweenthe and the receptacle into whih the matter is 4by the end of a rod 19 slidably mounted jupon the framework 1 and actuated by the it in' such position a.

fthe spring 17, the splndle 16 1s provided atv vturn axially through a portion of a revoder, is adapted to receivethe matterto be 7o franked and't'o forward such matter to-the -stamping mechanism.

For this purpose s uch cylinder 9 is provided, at the uired point upon itsperlphery-with a longitudinally disposed set of fixed gri pers 12. (Figs. 2 and 4) with'which-are a a ted to V cosact a corresponding set of mec anical grippers 13, by which term-is meant grippers operated mechanically by the machine to cause them to.` open or close. The fixed grippers are preferably mounted 'upon a guard 14 which is carried vupon the cylini der and longitudinally; disposed 4a 'slightj distance from the periphery thereof. By

periphery of the'cylinder andthe guard constitutes a gage for, determining the lmaximum thickness of the matter capable of being dealt with or franked b the machine. The matter to be franked 1s inserted` -between the said guard and. the' periphery of the cylinder and rests upon a line ,ofl stops 15. .The cylinder is thenv rotated through a portion fof a` revolution as .previously mentioned, during which the stops 15 are automatically movedout of range of i the matter and the latter gripped between the fixed and mechanical grippers. The said stops15 are mounted upon a common spindlef16 horizontally disposed across the framework 1 at the required position, such spindle being `provided with av spring 17 which tends to carry the stops into the out- ,of-range position. Togcause'the' said stops to be brought into'the set 4or operative position to receive the matter as .above mentioned the said spindle is provided at one end with an arm 18 adapted to be engaged les 11. means hereinafter described, while to retain inst the tendency of its other end4 with a notched or ratchet wheel 20v ada ted` to be engaged by'a suit` 115 able pawl. pon the turning of the handle 3 being. commenced, however, the lowerend of the rod 7 comes .in contact with and disvengages the said pawl fromthe wheel 20 thus permitting the spring 17 to carry vthe 120' fstops into the out-of-range position/ Thed said mechanical grippers 13 `are mounted u on 'a common spindle 22 longitudinally` dlsposedwithin the periphery of the cylin- A der 9.` 'A 'suitable spring 23.v is providedA to 126 normally maintain the grippers 13 in the closed or engaged position, while to 4cause such grippersto open or disengage the matter when required, the said spindle 22 is provided with anvarm 24 by means of which 130 vthe said grippers 13 as required during the turning of the cylinder 9. The saidcylinder 9, upon varriving at the limit of its turning movement, delivers the matter to the mechanism abouti'to be described, and

which serves to cause such mattei' to come in contact with and be impressed with the dies. The said mechanism-includes what is hereinafter termed the .platen-drum (Fig.

5) and comprising a sleeve 3Q upon the ends of whichare mounted a pair of end-plates 31 and 32. The said platen-drum is revolubly mounted upon a horizontal axis which is' divided aty or near the middle of its length so as to provide a. stationary axle 33 secured at its outer end to the framework 1 and upon which axle the sleeve 30 will be free to rotate, and a live portion 34 adaptedto revolve in a suitable bearingrprovided in the framework l. The said live portion 34 of the axis'is keyed, as by means of a pin 36 to the sleeve 30,.\vhile upon the outer end of such live portion 34 is keyed a pinion 37 by means of which the platen-drumv may be rotated. v

Mounted in conjunction with and upon the same axis as the platen-drum, is what will be ltermed the platen-carrying-member comprising a rectangular framework upon which-is carried a platen, such framework being adapted to receive the matter from the cylinder 9 and by means of its platen to present such matter to the dies. Forthis purpose the said platen-carryingmember, is adapted to y rotate with the platen-drum. At the required point in such rotation, however, the platen-carrying-member isl adapted to desist from itsv rotary movement with the platen drum and to move soas to carry the platen outward in a radial direction from themaxis in order that such platen may causcqthe matter to come in contact withiand beimpressed by the denomination dies, after. which the platen-carrying-member returns to its inward position and continues its rotation with the platen-drum. A -In construction the platen-carrying-meml ber comprises two longitudinal bar s 40 and 41 positioned one on either side of and parallel with the said drum axis and a p air of end members 42 and 43 each formed with a slot 45 through which the said axis passes. Upon the bar 40 is mounted a platen 46 while the other bar 41 is adapted to pass through slots 48 and 49 in the drum ends 31 and 32'respectively. The said end 'members' 42 and 43are adapted to slide in a radial di-- -rection upon arms 50 and 51 which latter are formed with bosses revoluble upon the said drum axis.

In order to 'allow of the platen accommodating itself to stamp various thicknesses of matter, the bag' 40 is resiliently arranged lin relation to the other portions of the platencarry1ngmember. For this purpose the ends of the bar 40 are slidably arranged in slots 53 formed in the end members 42 and 43, while to maintain the bar normallyoutward, at-the limit allowed by the slots, such bar is connected withthe bar 41 by means of three or more pairs of toggle-arms 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59. The center pivot of the arms 54-55 is coupled, by means of a ,link 61, vwith the corresponding pivot of the arms 5 8-59, while Vthe center pivot of the arms 56 57 is adapted to slide in a longitudinal vslot 62 formed in such link. By this construction a true parallel movement of the bar 40 is obtained, whileto provide the required outward tendency of such bar, a tension spring, or pair, ofsprings- 63 are employed to connectl the centerpivots of the arms 56-57 and 58-59.

To enable it to receive and hold the inatter during the stamping, the bar 40 (Fig.

6), is providedalong its outer face or periphery with a. series of grippers 64, which are loosely mountedupon acommon spindle 65 revolubly -mounted in bearings f 66 upon' the bar 40. The closing of the said grippers is effected by means of springs 68 (one for each) (Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17), ,so

l, as to provide for the independent closing of each individual gripper in order to allow for varying thicknesses of the 'matter dealt with. The opening-of the gripper is effected by turning the'said spindle 65 for which purpose the latter is provided with a series vof `pins 69 (one for each of the grippers) and adapted to pass through slots 7 0 in such grippers. To cause it to be turned the spindle 65 is provided with an arm 72 which 1s adapted to be engaged by apro-v jection 73 provided upon a plate 74 (Figs. 7, 8 and 9) slidably mounted upon the frame work 1. VPivoted als'o upon the said framework 1, as'at 76, is one end'of a. lever 77 which is controlled by a spring 78 which tends to cause such lever to engage the end of the plate 74 and carry the latter forward, in which position it 'is retained by reason of a. -dogupon its forward end being engaged by a detent 79 pivoted at the required point upon the framework 1. To prevent this action from taking place except at the lstage in the operation at which thev grippers require to be opened to release the matter after franking and toreceive fresh matter,

a lever .81, is provided, pivoted as at 82, upon the framework. andheld upward by means of a spring-83. The said lever yis formed with a shoulder 84 adapted to engage the lower end of the lever 77 and retain the latter against the tendency of its spring 478.

le i As the platen-drum completes its revolution, a projection or cam 86 upon the side of the pinion 37 comes into engagement with and depresses the lever 81 (as. in Fig. 8),!

thereby permitting the lever 77 to open the grippcrs in the manner above described.-

To eifect the closing of the grippers, that is to say, releasing them from the restraint of the projection 73 and so permitting them. ,10 to close under action of their springs 68, a-

.rod 88 is slidably mounted at the r uired point upon the framework 1, one .end o such rod beingadapted to be engaged by a cam 89 carried upon the forwarding -cylinder 9 in Such a manner as to cause the other end of such rod to carry the lever 77elearl ofthe plate 74, in which' position the lever is maintained by the shoulder 84 (as in Fig. 9).

During the movement of the cylinderj9 80 the grippe'rs 64 to close-under the action of their' springs v68 and sov firmlyhold the` matter upon the platen and its -carryingL member during the stamping operation.

During the rotation of theplaten-drum 85 also a pin or projection 92 upon the side of the pinion comes in'contact' with and opcrates the sliding rod 19 thereby restoringy thestopsll to the set -position in readiness toreceive the next lot of matter. f 40 The means for controlling the platen-carrying-member, so as to cause lthe-.latterto-ref volve with the platen-drum fandto desist from such rotation at the point at which the platen is required to perform its outward movement, as before-mentioned, include-a n V sun-'wheel 93 (Fig-5 'and Figs. 10 .to 18),

keyed upon the stationary axlev33, and with which 'Wheel 93 are adapted to intel-mesh l 'two lplanet-wheels 95 and 96, -'revol ubly' mounted .upon axes 97 and 98 respectively'g carried uponthe drumend 31. The said wheels 95' and 96 are provided with camsg 100 and 101 respectively of the requiredior- .mation and adaptedl to engage two pins or rollers .102, and 103 respectively mounted J upon the boss of the arm 50.

" g By this arrangement the rotation ofthe platen-drum, will, by reason of the @inter- )meshing of the stationary sun-wheel 93 with 6.0 the planet-wheels 95 and 96, cause the latter to revolve. At the commencement of the rotation of the platen-drum (as shown inl Fig. 10) the cam 101 will S0 ellgge the .pin 103 as to cause the platen-carrying-member to 5 revolve with the platen-drum. As the'rota- .and 101V in arresti tion of the. platen-drum. and the consequent, rotation of the cams 100 and 101 continues,

the j platen-carrying-member. will, by the operation of. suchcams upon the pins 102 and-'103, be caused to 4continue its rotation 7g with the platen-drum. At the point in such rotation at which the platen is directly be` neath the denominationdies 104 (as in Fig. 11) the' cams 100. and 101. have arrived, 1n the course of their individual rotations, at. such positions that their operation upon the pins 102 'and 103 will cause the platen-carry-C ing-member to' come to a standstill at this position while the platen-drum continues its rotation.V 8.0

'- While in this position the platen-carrying-member is caused to perform its out ward movement so as to cause the platen to bring the matterinto contact with then denommation dies,the impression made being. s5-

as shown in Fig. 1 9. For this purpose a pair of levers 'or arms 106 4and 107 (Figs.l` 23 and 25) areprovided and keyed upon a horizontal shaft 108, mounted m` bearin in the framework 1. At this stage in t e 90 operation, the levers 106 and 107 are caused by the shaft 108 Vto turn so as to engage the end membersv 42 and 43 respectively and so j raise the platen-carrying-member -in the reuired manner to cause the platen to bring t e matter into contact with the denomination dies 104. To assist the said cams '100 the rotation of; the latencarryingmem r and to linsure the atterbein movement, the end-members 42 and43 are provided with' projections' 109 and 110 respectively (Figs. 5band-23). by meansjof which the levers 106 and 107 engage suelrloi ends and the said levers are Vformed near.l their extremities with shoulders `1'12 and 1,18 respectively adapted to come in contact with f the forward faces of such projections 109 and '110, as shown in Fig. 23.

. 110 The outward movement of the platen, and

-'the'v` consequent 'printing of the value or denomination upon the` matter', having been 4thus performed, the levers 106-and 107 arel restored by the machineto their original sition, thus permitting the platen-carryingmember also tb returnto its former position 12, in .which positionfneither of auch' cams exertvany influenceu n the platencarrying-member. By the time the'platen- Y carrying-member has .returned to its normal position., however-, the cams have the positions shown in Fig.- 13. In this po- .l l sition the cam 101,- so engages the pin 103 13b in the correct position at the 100 .moment o performing its said outward as to causeV the platen-carrying-member to resumeits rotation with the platen-drum and with which it, A completes its revolution.,

The matter, after coming in contact with the denomination dies', as above-mentioned,

'bears anv imprint representingthe value only, as-illustrated in Fig. 19. In order therefore 'to complete the frank by impress.- ing or stamping the matter with some additional letterpress, symbols, figures, devices, or the like (Figs. 20 and 21) one or more dies are employed and adapted to come into operation as hereinafter described.

As here shown (Figs. 14 to 18) two diesl 115 and 116, of segmental form, are employedvand revolubly mounted upon axes 11,7 and 118 respectively, carried .upon the framework 1 .1 The said dies are so disposed i around' the path described by the platen,

that, as 'the latter completes its revolution,'

it will cause the matter to come in contact with and sobe impressed by the saiddies successively.` To cause the dies 115 and 116 to come into the operative position soas to present their peripheris to the matter as the platen vlarrives Aat the required position, such dies (Fig. 18) are provided -with pinions 120 and 121 respectively adapted to intermesh with a quadrant 122 carriedupon the boss of the arm 50 of the platen-carrying-member, so that, as the latter revolves,

it will bring the dies into their operative positions at the required moment. As here shown the operation ofthe supplementary dies takes place subsequently to the impression by the denomination dies, but obviously,

by a slight lrearrangement, suchA supple-v mentary dies may be causedto come into operation lirst". The impressions made by the' dies may be as shown in Figs. v20 and 21.

-The inkingI of all the dies is effected by means Vof 'ink-rollers (one for each) revo-f lubly mounted yand each adapted to receive a supply of ink from a separate rotatable 'ink- For this purpose an ink-pad 127, .of seg-A pad and to transfer the ink so obtained, to its particular set of dies, previous to the impression of the latter, as hereinbefore described.

' 'llo effect the inking of the denomination dies 104 an ink-roller 124 (Figs. 14 and 15) is provided and is revolubly mounted upon a spindle 125V carried upon the end 31 of the platen-drum atsuch a position that such roller will come'in contact with vand pass across the dies,'previou s to their impression 'upon the matter. While the platen-drum is in position, ready to receive the matter, the said ink-roller projects in a forwardly direct'ion therefrom and in which position it receives a supply of ink during the operation of the `dru'm 9 in forwarding the .matten mental form, is provided and revolubly mounted vupon an -axis,'128 carried upon the framework at such a. positlon, that, as such p ink-pad is revolved, its periphery will come .in contact with thel ink-roller 124. Toeiect this rotation the said ink-padA 127 is provided with a pinion 129 adapted to intermesh with a pinion 1 31 revolubly mounted upon an axis carried upon the framework 1,

.such pinion 131 being yadapted to intermesh with rack-teeth133 formeduponl the sliding rod, 7. By this arrangement the movement of the sliding rod 7, in turning the cylinder 9 so asto forward the matter, as hereinbefore mentioned, serves also to rotate the-ink- A pad 127 and so supply ink to the roller 124. .Thedie 115 as, it is brought into position bythe quadrant 122 to impress the matter, as hereinbefore mentioned, comes in contact with and receives a supply of ink lfrom an ink-roller 135 (Figs. 14, 15 and 16) revolubly mounted upon the framework and simi- ;larIy, the die 116, as it is brought into operation by the same means, comes in contact with and receives ink from an ink-roller 136, also revolubly mounted upon the said framework 1.

To supply ink to the roller 135 a cylindrical ink-'pad 138 (Fig. 22) is provided and revolubly mounted upon anaXis 139 positioned upon the framework 1 at such a point that the peripheries of such roller and inkvpad 'will be in contact, and, in a similar manner, a second ink-pad 140 is provided upon an axis'141 so as to supply ink to the roller 136. To effect the rotation of the said ink-pads, to insure the supply of fresh ink to the dies at, each operation ofthe latter, the ink-pad 138 is provided with a pinion 143 and similarly the ink-pad 140 is provided with a. pinion 144v both 'of which pinions are adapted to intermesh with a spur-Wheel 145. The spur-wheel 145 is mounted upon a spindle 146 carried in' bearing in the framework 1 and is provided .with a pinion 147 'adapted to intermesh with a` second pinion 148 revolubly mounted upon th colorA or colors of theJconapleted frankV will be produced synthetic'ally by the superimposing of the successive unpressions.

-The denomination dies 104 consist ofva'v series of .disks mounted'side .by side and adapted to independentrotation, such disks being provided around their peripheries 'with dies or stampsadapted -to printv numbers ,or signs to represent values. Thus in the ease of a machine as here shown for use with English currency, the denomination dies Will consist'of a'pence disk 1537 (Fig. 4)

keyed upon a horizontal spindle 154 revolubly mounted inthe framework, a. shillings disk 155 keyed upon a sleeve 156 revolubly mounted upon the said spindle 154, and a pounds disk. 157 vkeyed upon a sleeve 158l revoluble upon the said sleeve 156. 1

For selecting the different denominations, .ie., for adjusting the`denominatin dies so as to bring the desired figures into the operative position to impress the matter, a

series of hand levers, of a similar number to 'I the disks of. the denomination dies, are provided, the handle portionsof such levers being adapted to project outwardly from the exterior of the case ofthe machine. Thus in the'machine as here shown, to operate the pence disk 1'53 a pence lever 1-60 is provided and keyed upon a horizontallspindle 161 revolubly mounted in the framework,4 such .spindle 161 having keyedupon it a quadrant 162 adapted to intermesh with a pinion 163 A keyed upon the spindle 154. l To operate the shillings disk 155 a similar lever'164 is provided and keyed upon a sleeve 165 revolu'ble upon the spindle 161 and upon which sleeve 165 is keyed also a quadrant 166 adapted to intermesh with a pinion 167 keyed upon the sleeve 156. Again to` operate lthe pounds disk 157 a similar lever`168 is provided and keyed/ upon a sleeve 169 revoluble upon the sleeve 165 and upon which sleeve 169 is keyed a quadrant 170 adapted to intermesh with a pinion 171 keyed upon th sleeve A158.

In order to enable them to be operated from the exterior of the machine, theouter or handle'portions of the'1ever's160, 164 and 168 are so arranged as to project through slots 173, 174 and 175 respectively formedin a plate 176, which constitutes a portion of the case of' the machine, as shown in Figs.

. land 2.

1 T0-enable 'the Seeing of the disks of the denomination dies to be conveniently performed by the said levers, the portions of the plate 176 adjacent to each of the said l slots are provided with graduations 177., v While the levers themselves are provided -I with pointers or the like 178'a'da'pted-to register with such graduations. 'By this arrangement the turning of a lever so as to `cause its pointer to register with a certain figure upon the graduation 17 7 will serve 4to operate the corresponding .diskrof the denomination dies as to .bring alike figure into the operative position upon the latter.4

Provision ismade for rendering the value,

'I when selected in the above described manner vby the manipulation of the levers, clearly visible from the exterior ofthe machine,'in

orderthat," should an error have occurred,

the same may be: rectied before the operating handle of the machine. is turned. For

`this purpose a disk 180 (Figs. 2 and 4) bearing around its periphery a series of figures identical with those lof the pence disk 153, is `provlded and keyed upon a horizontal spindle 181 revoluloly mounted upon the .framework 1, 'such spindlel also having keyed upon it a. pinionv182 ladapte to intermesh with the pinion 163. Revoluble' upon the 'spindle 181, is asleeve 183 upon which is, keyed a similar disk 184, bearing around its periphery a series of figures corresponding with those of the .disk 155 of the denomination dies, while upon such sleeve 183, is

mesh with thepinion 167. Revoluble again upon the sleeve 183, is a sleeve 186, upon which is keyed a similar disk 187,*bearing around its periphery a series of figures corkeyed also a pinion 18,5, adapted to inter- `v responding with those of the disk 157 .of the denomination dies, such Vsleeve 186 having I such disks are revolved. will be brought into view behind a glazed slot or open1ngy191' formed in the plate 176, in order to indicate the total value of the franks supplied by the machine.l

Y In the machine as here shown and designed for use with English currency there is a ence disk 193 (Figs. 23, 24 and 25), the

a" Shilling disk 194 graduated in shillings ra nations of which run from 0 or zero and` i 'i increase by 1f-penny upto 11 pence 1}-Penny,-

from 0 or zero to 19 shillings, Vand four pounds disks`195, 196, 197 and 198. respectiyely, each graduated from 0 or zero to 9. The said disks are each independently revoluble upon a common axis 199, which latter is fioatably'mo'unted in vertical slots 200 and 201, in the .iramework 1. The. said disks 193, -i

194', 195, 196, 197 `and 198 are provided with .pimons 202,203, 204, 205, 206and 207 re#` spectively, by means of which such disks are operated. j' l d'apted'to intermesh with the pinions 199 is depressed inthe slots, are quadrants 209, 210, and` 211. .The quadrant'. 209 col' operating-'with the pinion 202 is revolubly mounted upon the spindle-161, the quadrant 202,203, and 204 respectively, when the axis4 210, Vcoperatingwith the pinion'203, is rev- 1 the quadrantT 211,' coperating with the mounted u pon the sleeve 169.

M 'To enable them to be operated, the saidl u adrants 209, 210 and 211 are provided or ,ormed'withf pinions, or pinion-segments,

pinion 204, is in a similar manner'revolubly 212, 213, and 214 lrespectively. The said pinions are adapted to intel-mesh with rackrods 215, 216, and l217, respectively, such rack-rods being slidably mounted and provided with springs 218 (one for each), which tend to draw their rods rearwardly, and consequently to turn their respective quadrants sol as to project in a forward di# rcction. Against this tendency the quadrants are controlled by their corresponding levers. For this purpose, upon the lever 160 (Fig. 4) is provided a pin orV stop 220, adapted `to engage the forward edge of the quadrant 209; upon the lever 164, is provided a pin or stop 221, adapted to engage the forward edge of thequadrant 210; and similarly, upon the lever168, is provided a stop 222, Aadapted to engage the forward edge of the quadrant 211. By this arrangement, the tendency of the springs 218 will keep the quadrants in engagement withthe said stops. Thus, -for example, shouldthe lever 160 be movedforward from its zero position for the purpose of selecting the denomination or value of the frank, as already explained, the quadrant 209, will, under actionof the spring 218, move forward with such lever.

Before the operation of the machine is commenced the floating axis 199 is in`its normal or upward position in the slots 200 and 201 (Fig. 25) in which condition the Vpinions 202, 203, and 204 will be out of range of the quadrants 209, 210, and 211.

To control the said floating axis 199, two rods 224` and 225, are employed, such rods belng connected at their upper ends with 4 the sa-id -axis199 while their lower ends project downwardly and are formed with slots 226, through which passes a horizontal spindle. 227 ,rotatably mounted in bearings in the framework 1. Upon the said spindle l are keyed two cams 228 andv 229, the pe ripheries of which are adapted to engage pins or rollers 230 and 231, provided upon the said rods 224 and 225 respectively. By this arrangement, as the spindle 227 is turned,`the cams will serve to raise the axis l199 or allow it to descend.

i During the operation ofthe machine, however, the turning of the spindle 227, will permit the axis l99`to-desfcend and so bring such pinions within range of the quadrants, which'latter are then caused by the machine to leave their forward positions, in engagement with the stops 220, 221, and 222, and return to their' original rearward positions, durmg' which return movement the quad'- rants engage and turn such pinions and with `them the disks 193, 194, and 195. The arrangement is such, that, Vthe extent to whichl the pinion 202, during the return movement of such quadrant, as to turn the disk 193 to -that position at which it will show an additional three pence, to the amount previously displayed. To effect thesaid return movements of the rack-rods 21.5, 216, and 217 a horizontal `shaft 234 is provided and revolubly mounted in bearings in the framework 1,'such shaft being adapted toL pass through slots 235 (Fig. 24), formed one 1n I each of the said rack-rods/and longitudinally therewith, while the forward "portions 4of such rack-rods are supportedby rollersl 236, mounted in'the framework 1. Keyed upon the said shaft'234, are three ,cams 237, 238, and 240, corresponding respectively with the rack-rods 215, 216, and 217, while to ,enable them to be operated by the said1 cams, each of such rack-rodsy is provided with a pin orroller 241, adapted to engage the forward side of the cam in each case. The 'arrangement' is such, that, upon the shaft 234 being rotated, so as to cause the cams to present their greatest diameters to the pins 241, any of the quadrants209, 210,

and 211, which may have been previously.

allowed toA advance by their respective levers, will, by the operation of their respective ibo rack-rods and `pinions,.be caused to returnto the normal or rearward position,

yIn order lto lguard against the counter` disks 193, 194, and 195 being turned except I under action of their corresponding quadrants, stops or teeth 242, 243, and 244 (Fig. v 25) are arranged to intermesh respectlvely with the teeth of the pinions 202, 203, and

204, when the latter are in the upward posi-l .tion out of range of the quadrants 209, 210,v and 211, as previously described. rIphe mounting of the-said stops 242, 243, and 244,

comprises a horizontal' bar, or fixed axis,

245, in -the framework 1, -andfrom which axis the said stops dependat the required positions, the stop 242 being keyed upon the axis, while -the stops 243and 244 are rev-v oluble thereon, for a purpose hereinafter.

explained.

To effect the transferringwhen required, as for instance, from pencedisk 193 to the shillings disk 194, when the amount 4of 12 .pencehas been reached, each of the stops 243 and 244 is provided with an arm or lever 247 and a spring 248 which serves to restore such stop toits normalposition after being oper'- ated by the said lever. as to depend fromthe lends 'of the said leversg foreach), which are formed in-their upper portions with 'dogs 254, adapted to engage the dogs 251', for the purpose of'drawing down the leversl247 During each operation of .the machine, the rods 253 are caused to make one reciprocal movement up and dow-n.

For this purpose, each of the said rods'is formed its lower portion with a slot 256", through'which'the spindle 227 passes. Upon y the spindle 227, are keyed two cams 257 (one vfor each ofthe rods) and whichcams are adapted to engage pins or rollers 258 Aupon the lowerends of their respective rods, for' the purpose' 'cf 'depressing the. latter.- To

effect the upward -movement of'the said rods, suitable springs 259 are provided.

'For the purpose of guiding therods-253,

-' arm by the cam, will so turnthe spindle 267,

-so'as to bring them within range ofthe *links 250, whe'nrequired, to permit of' the dogs 254 engaging .the dogs 251, twov guideplates 260 (one for each of the rods) are y proyided. Each of the said guide plates 260 is mounted, at its lower end, loosely u on thev spindle 227, by theg'side ofV its respec lve rod and extends upward parallel therewith,

' while to provide the requiredconnectiom-the said guide-plate is furnished with a-pin261,

which isreceived within a slot 262m the rod. When'in their normal or .forward positions', the guide-plates 260 maintain their rods 253 out of range of the respective links 250. To cause the said lguide-plates to move 40 slightly-in a rearwardly direction and so bring their rods Within range of.' the links,

the pence'disk 193 is provided with'a cam? v 263, adapted to engage the guideplate cor;

responding with thestop 243, upon thecom -pleti'on of each revolution, and similarly,

the shillings disk 194 is providedwitha cam- 263 adapted to engage the Aguide-pla'te corresponding' with 'the vstop 244, upon the also operates the ink-pads 127 138and 140,

completion of each revolution.

v VVhilethe recording may beeected by the ordinary functions of the counting mechanism, e., by the direct 1rotation kof the disks by the quadrants, as previously ex-f "planned, the rods':253, although performing their vreciprocal fmove'ments, are so, con, trolled, by.` their vguideeplates 260,. that they' do not. come within vrange of the 'links' 2 50.

' Upon either'of the disks-193'or 194'com- .aspleting its revolution and therefore necessif,

tating a transfer, thecam of such diskwill engage the guide plate corresponding with the next .disk and so placethe rodfwithinrange of the link. Upon its downward movement, such rod WiIlengage'the.. link 2 7 and so depress the ever, that the Connected. with, so

attached stop -will turnland advance its f-piuion onetooth, thus causing'the disk, to

which such pinion is attached, to register an additional figure. Inthia advanced position the stop will remain at'thecompletion ofthe operation of the machine. At that stageat which the-axis 199 is in its lower position,

during the next or subsequent operation ofl a To 'restore thefguide-plates 260, as abovementioned,two arms or levers 266 (one for each of the guide plates). are provided a d keyed -upo'n a horizontal spindle '267, rdolubly 'mounted bearings in thel fram work` 1.-' Keyed upon the sai-d'spin'dle also',

` is'anarm 268 adapted, at the required stage in leachoperationof the machine, to be enupon the spindle 234, the arrangement being such that, the engagement .of the said that the larms 266 will come into engagement with: their 'respective guideplatesalnd so, if

A.gaged-(as n'Fig.A 28). by a cam 269l keyed necessary,carry the latter forward into their norma-l positions. The remammg ate 1n conjunctionwith' the disk-195 for the purpose of carrying the record of the pounds into tens, hundreds, thousands, and-so forth,

up toA any desired limit, according tothe number of such -continuation disks employed. The said continuation disks are operated disks 196,197 -and i1 98 are simply lcontinuation disks adapted to .operupon the well-known principle, consisting 1 of a pin upon the disk 195 adapted, upon the completion of each' revolution of the. latter,

to engage a pinion 270 and s o-.cau'se the latter,'whichintern1eshes withthe plnion 205,` .toadvancethedlsk anadditional figure, and

soon.

AsV already eXplained, theA action 'of turning the operating handle 3 ofA the machine, actuat'esthe forwardingcylinder 9, and, in

In performing these operations, the said handle 3 completes one revolution. 'In order however to preclude the.. possibility of inl.

ac'cl'iracies occurring vin the' working, due to irregularities in the speedat which the mechamsm. is operated, the remaining movements 'are actuated-byv automatic means. VFor. this' purposethe handle 3,'during its said revo- 4 lution,' is'adapted, in addition toits functions 'as abOYefmenti'Oned, tofwind up. a spring 273:,and so store upl in the latter suflicientenergy to actuate t e machine during 'the stamping, recording and other subse' quentfoperatlons, the speed, at'which such spring Opera-tes the mechanism being gov' erned by means of a dash-pot. To effect this addition to'which, such action of the-handle purpose, one end.' of the spring 273` is se.

-to interm'esh with a spur-wheel 275,.keyed upon a horizontal `shaft- 276, revolubly mounted in the framework `1-. The said spur-wheel 275 also intermeshes with the pinion 37, for the pin-pose of rotating the platen-drum, laspreviously mentioned, while,

to operate thearms 106 and 107 for the purpose of raising the platen-carrying-member as h'ereinbefore described, a cam 277 is keyed:

upon the spindle 227, such cam being adapted to engagean arm 278, upon the spindle 108, and so effect theV turningof'the latter.

Again to effect the required rotation ofthe shaft 234 a pinion 271 is keyed thereon and adaptedl to intermesh with la pinion 272 keyed upon the shaft 227. To enable the said winding lof the spring 273 to'be performed as required, the spur-'wheel 275 is held stationary, during'the revolution of thel handle 3,' while to prevent the latter from turning backward under Vaction of thesaid spring, a. pawl-280 (Fig. 31), pivoted -upon the framework l, is adapted to engage aratchet-wheel 281 carried upon the shaft 2. The means for so controllin the spur-wheel t 275 during the winding'of he spring,eon sist of av plate 282, arranged adjacent to the inner side face of the spur-wheel, such plate depending, bymeans of. a hinge 283, from a; link' 284, which in turn is attached, by- [means of a` second h inge285, to the-framework To enable it to engage. the A,spur-i wheel, the plate 282 is providedwith'a projection 286, adapted to enter a slot 287 in the spur-wheel, aspring 288 being employed v'to maintain the plate in vsuch position of engagement. Upon the lcompletion of the revo-v -lution of the "handle, however, thjeplate 282 I is withdrawn'so asto disengage thelprojection 286 from the slot 287 and so permit the spur-wheelto revolve under action of 'the spring 273. For this purpose, a dog, 289 is provided and attached, by means of apivot 290, to the vlink 284, such dog being adapted to bev engaged by a corresponding dog- 291,

formed iupjo'n the adjacent end of a horizontalro'd 292,-slidably arranged, in a tra'ns-v u vVerse direction, inthe framework.V The said' redis provided Witha l spring' 293, ,whichf tends to carry-suchrod away from .the said v Y -socause the quadrant. 299 to bel turned' by such shaft, thus, 'by means of the pinion 304 r and .rack-rod 305, depressing the plunger v'ofthedash--pot 309 and which action coni tinues until the completion of the operation of the machine. At the completion of the :movement, however;'the dogs 301 arrive at,v suehpositins' thatthey are clear of the cams dogj289, y Connectedv with vthe other vend of the rod 292, by meansgof apivpt 294, is ,one

arm' of a'-bell-crank-lever, or. trigger, '295,1 which is fulcrumedat 296, upon the framef work 1. The arrangementis such that, dur-g ing'. thesaid.A revolution of the handle-3,'- af cam`297 keyed upon the shaft 2, s o oengages 'the other or freearm ofthe trigger 295,'{asf'j -to cause such rod to'slide lengthwise, against. v the 'tendencyl of the spring 293, until the dog.-

YAYs55-,291 comes into engagement with reinste-hes he@ 't0 trigger, theregby permitting the rod ,292' to return, under. action of its spring293,"and,

in so doing, tojcarry the plate 282.a.\\"a \`j from the spun-Wheel 275, vsuliciently to disengage the proJection 286'from the slot 287, after whichjthe'dog- 289 slips from engagement with the dog 291, allowing the plate 282 to bear against the spur wheel 275 so that when the revolution is completed the projection .286 again engages the slot 287. jThe spur- -Wheel 275 is thus released and permitted toturn, so as to cause the remaining movements` of the machine'to be performed underv actionof ,the spring 273. 0n the completion o f this movement, the spur-wheel is agaln locked, by reason of the projection again entering theslot 287. As here shown,

the'spurwheel is adapted to perform a quarter ofa revolution at each operatlon and `consequent-ly it is formed .with four slots,

but the action would be precisely the same 1f such wheel were of smaller d1ametcrso as to make one complete revolution at each operation,vin which case but 'one slot would be provided.' A

For'the purpose of governing the speed at which the 'mechanism is operated by the spring 273, as previously mentioned, a quadthe said handle, the cam 297 releases the i rant' 299 (Figs. 29 and 30), is loosely mounted upon the shaft 276, such quadrant being adapted to engage the shaft, in

one'direction only, by' means of a` dog-clutch,

.' comprising a boss 300, keyed upon the shaft 276 and around the periphery of which boss are pivoted a plurality of dogs 301, which,

as the said shaft revolves, are brought, by stationary y 'cam-plates 302, into engagement -with pins303, upon the quadrant '299, thus -causing'thelatter to turn with the shaft.

Intermeshing with theteeth of the quadrant 299, isan; intermediate pinion, 30+, interl,meshing also withfa,rack-rod,h305, slidable,

in a vertical direction, inguides- 306, carried upon the frameworkV 1. Connected with the fsaid. rack-rod 305, is'thepiston-rod 308, of Y a" dash-"pot 309,- aspring 310 being provided @to maintain the rack-rod normally in the upward position,

f TheA arrangement is such that,7upon the shaft 276' commencing lts turn1ng,"under action of jthe"sp ring 273"the dogs 301 will come into engagement with the-pins 303, and

Y302 andare therefore allowed to disengage thejpinsf303 ofthe quadrant. The quadrant, turn `upon the shaft, the

or quadrant form and is hinged or pivoted of the machine has commenced. For this 5 themachine, the matter is dropped, bythe opening ofthe grippers 64, and passes through an opening 312 (Fig. 31) 1n the base of the machine,.into a receptacle 313, arranged, beneath to -receive it. .As here shown, the saidv receptacleis of trlangular at' its apex 314 so as to permitof its.. being closed within a cabinet 315, as shownm full lines, or opened to allow ofthe matter b eing withdrawn, the position when partially l Vopened bein indicated in dotted lines. It will be un erstood,` however, that access might be gained to the machine through the opening 312 when the receptacle 313 1s `1n the open condition. To prevent this a hi ed flap or shutter 317 vis provided andh1 ed ,upon the underside ofthe basa-such' ap being so arranged, that, while the receptacle is closed, such flap ywill'hang downward, as indicated in fullslines, for thepurpose. of allowing the matter to pass through the sald opening 312, but the action of openingsuch receptacle will cause the 'flap to turn upward, into the dotted line position, and so cover the opening., As an additional precaution, the receptacle is so arranged that y the operating handle 3 is locked from turn-lA ing while such receptacle is open` and means are also provided or preventing the-receptacle from. ing opened 'iifter the operatlon "rfulcrumed, by one purpose, a lever 318`i Xtendsv thereend,4t o the cabinetnl` n from in a forwardly n.. Uponthe forward endof the-'said l provided a pin or roller 319a'dap' d 1whenfthe'receptacle is in the closed con ition', 'toenter 'a notch or recess 321, formed .in one of the sides of such receptacle, the saidnotch being pose of lifting the lev'er during the opening of the receptacle. Connectedyvith `the said and received 'within vertical `slot1-i`32u5in the rod, a spring 326 being provided'to draw I.

such rod in -a downward direction.` Upon ripheryvof which is provideda notchl 328, l into which the upper end of the rod 323 is 4adapted to enter, when the handle 3` isfin the normal position before the operatin of t the machine has been commenced. Thear'- 0 rangement is such that, while the receptacle 5 ofthe roller 319 withl the notch 321 and the v3 completes its revolution before the remainso formed as to serve as a cam forfthe 'pur-A of-pins 324, carriedfupon thefframework 1.l

the shaft 2 is keyed a disk 327, in the pe-v in-Fig. 32. The notch 331 istherefore out adjacent portion of the edge or peripheryof the end of the rece tacle, the result bemg thatthe rod 323 wil be raised thereby so :that the Aupper end of the latter will enter 'of the handle 3 has been completed. As,

however, previouslyexplained, the handlel ing movements are commenced, under actionof the spring '273, the notch 328, will again 4registerwith the end of the rod and would therefore permit the 4receptacle to be opened before such remaining operations of the machine take place. To prevent this, a' plate-330 1s loosely mounted upon the shaft 'n 2 and is adapted tov be turned by friction with the disk 327, such Klate being providedy also in its periphery Wit a notch'331, adapted also to receive the end of the'rod 323.4 -U pon the shaft 276, is keyed a disk 332, in'

the periphery of -which is formed a notch 333,adapted,to receive a projection 334 upon the rod-323 when the latter is in the aforesaid upward position. Pivoted, by means of a pin 336, upon the framework. 1,- is a lever 337, one end Vof -which is engaged by a p1n 338, carriedupon the disk 332, while the other. end of such lever is adapted `to engage and control the said plate he arrangement lissuch that before the turning of the 'handle 3 'is commenced, the

notch 331 ofthe plate,`w,ill be in alinement Awith the notch 328, of the disk 327, both of which notch will be in register with the top of the rod 323, iwhile the notch 333, of the disk 332, will also bein register with the i projection 334 ofthe rod, all as shown in Fi .31. In this positiontherefore, the reoeptac e will be free to open..l Upon the turning of the handle 3-being. commenced, however, the plate 330, will, byreason of itsfriction with the dlsk 327, begin to turn with the latter until'such-plate comes in contact `with, and

.is therefore arrested' by, the lever 337, which latter is restrained by'the pin'338, as shown of register with the end of the rod 323, and

in which condition theplate 330 'remains until the shaft l.276 commences its rotation. vIt-wlll therefore be impossible, at this stage,

to open the receptacle, owing to -the fact that the rod would be prevented from rising by the 4periphery of the plate 330. Upon the commencement of the rotation vof the shaft V27 6, the disk 332 `will begin to turn also, and .so carry its notch 333 out ofY register with the' projection 334 as in Fig.. 33,` and thus 130 

